Wireless Technologies for Ambient Assisted Living and Healthcare: Systems and Applications
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Wi-Fi mesh is a fast growing and mature technology which is widely used and has been proven very useful for healthcare including applications for ambient people. In this chapter, we attempt a quick introduction of the principles of 802.11s protocol that refers to mesh topology Wi-Fi networks. Specifically, we describe the main operations and functions performed in a Wi-Fi mesh network such as routing procedures, synchronization as well as QoS capabilities and security mechanisms that are crucial for carrying sensitive information like medical data. Finally, in the second part of this chapter, actual measurements are presented from an experimental network that consisted of four dual radio (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) mesh access points. Key parameters are evaluated, such as maximum throughput for different distances, jitter, delay and data loss which affect the transmission of sensitive data. Moreover, the handover capability of the system is presented in terms of data throughput and voice quality degradation during the transition.
(EN)
